Flood-weary Boulder residents make the most of a bad situation

A woman with an umbrella watches the swelling Boulder Creek, which flooded on Sept. 12 after three straight days of heavy rainfall in Boulder, Colo.

The unprecedented deluge dumped 7 inches of rain on Boulder in just 24 hours — shattering the city's 95-year record for rainfall. Although some people are enjoying a lighthearted romp in the rain, thousands more are not so lucky. Residents of low-lying areas have been evacuated, three people have been confirmed dead and several others remain missing.

The floods are especially severe due to this year's rampant wildfires. After burning away a sizeable portion of the region's undergrowth, there is less of a natural buffer against fast-moving waters.

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Photo: Dana Romanoff/Getty Images

Nicky Toor, 15, kicks back in an inner tube as his dog, Chaco, pulls him down Ninth Street alongside North Boulder Park.